Electrically-actuated taximeter for cabs and like vehicles.



C. ROBINSON.

ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED TAX'METER FOR CABS AND LIKE VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.3). I912 Patented Feb. 1-3, 1916.

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ELECTRlCALLY IACTUATED TAXIMETER FOR CABS AND LIKE VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30. 19%

1, 171 ,889. Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

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C. RUBINSC ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED TAXIMETER FOR CABS AND LIKE VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. n). 1912.

1 1 7 1 .889. Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

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C. ROBINSON. ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED TAXIMETER FOR CABS AND LIK APRUCATION FILED NOV- 30. 1912. 1,171,889. Patented Feb. 15,1916.

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E VEHICLES.

. C. ROBINSON. ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED TAXIMETER FOR CABS AND UKE VEHICLES.

APPLICAHON FILED NOV. 30. l9l2. 1,171,889. Patented Feb.15,1916.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6 C. ROBEQSON. ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED TAXKMHER fOR CABS AND LIKE VEHICLES.

APPUCATIOR EH5! NOV. 30. 1912. 1 171,889. Patented Feb. 15,1916. 8 SHEETSSHEET 7.

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APPLICATIDN FLED NOV- 30, \9\2- 1,171,889. Patented Feb 15, 1916.

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closed simultaneously. The said UNITED ELECTRICALLY-ACTU ATED ROBINSON, OF DUNOON, SCOTLAND.

TAXIMETER FOR CABS AND LIKE VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

Application filed November 30, 1912. Serial No. 734,286.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHAnLns ROBINSON, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Dunoon, county of Argyle, Scotland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Electrically-Actuated Taximeters for Cabs and like Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrically actuated taximeters for cabs and like vehicles of the type in which the amount chargeable to each Fare is registered and visibly displayed on a dial (or dials) and is at the same time registered within the apparatus, said dial (or dials) being capable of being re-set at zero upon the discharge of each fare.

Under the present invention the taximeter, which is actuated by electrical means, automatically registers and visibly displays the total amount chargeable to each fare, including charges for excess luggage and (or) extra passengers carried, and also totalizes and registers the whole earnings of the vehicle (over any suitable period of time) in a manner beyond the drivers control. Means are also preferably provided whereby the meter can register the amount chargeable for time and distance combined, and for extra passengers or excess luggage, or both, at a predetermined rate or rates per unit distance run.

Motion is communicated from the road wheels of the vehicle, by suitable means, to a spindle carrying a number of wipers, cams or the like, said wipers causing oscillating blocks, attached to suitable beam levers, to close momentarily members of electric spring contacts thereby closing circuits from switches in suitable parts of the vehicle to an electro-magnet. The aforesaid wipers are so arrange that no two circuits are electromagnet operates, at each passage of current therethrough, an armature which, through suitable connections, operates a pair of levers, loosely mounted upon a spindle which carries fare and totalizer wheels and by means of driving pawls thereon actuates these wheels so as to cause the fare payable by each passenger and the total earnings 0 the vehicle to be registered.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood I have hereunto appended explanatory drawings which show, by way of illustration or example, ing out my invention.

Figure l is a front elevation of the taximeter casing showing the fare indicator. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus with the casing removed. Fig. 3 is a side view of theapparatus, looking at side A, Fig. 2, with sides and top of casing removed. Fig. 4 is a back view of the arrangement for operating the totalizer wheel, all other gear being removed for the sake of clearness. Fig. 5 is a front view of the arrangement for operating the fare wheel, all other gear being removed. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the arrangement for controlling the time circuit. Fig. of a train of gear wheels which may be embodied in the apparatus for indicating an registering the mileage run by the vehicle. Fig. 8 is a view of a switch attachment suitable for controlling an auxiliary circuit through a pivoted seat. Fig. 9 is a view of a switch suitable for closing an auxiliary circuit when a predetermined weight of luggage is placed upon the luggage carrier. Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of a switch suitable for controlling the main or passenger circuit of the meter. Fig. 11 is a detail view showing the connecting wire 2, lever 3, spring pawl 6 and ratchet wheel 5 and accessories for conveying the motion of the road wheel to the mechanism for actuating the indicator pointers. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing the electrical connections of the apparatus.

In carrying the invention into efiect or practice the mechanism, which is contained in a suitable casing 1, may be constructed and arranged as follows :The meter may be connected to the driving or road wheels of the vehicle by means of an eccentric or cam on the axle, or by any suitable speed reducing mechanism or like means, giving motion at each revolution of the wheel and axle, either forward or backward,to a-wire, lever or the like 2 connected to one end of a lever 3 (see Figs. 1 and 11) which is fitted to oscillate loosely on a spindle 4 carrying a ratchet wheel 5 fast thereon, and, bymeans of a spring pawl 6 engaging with the ratchet teeth, to turn said wheel 5 one or more teeth as may be arranged for every revolution of the road wheel. A spring 7 is connected to the end of the lever 3 and to the casing 1 to ment, and fixed pins 8, one on each side of 7 is a detail View a method of carryreturn the lever after every moveto ac wte the R ve! registering mwhamsm 1m i 'zi'angod. 4 V ilve wif- I the fofim iug m "rviv Ew may 0f that m nmnrmzr xampla,

'3, 20 and 21 {we Flsw ed on a apindle rm'eizmrd m as tin? J, f" i w u; mulls/1&1 Wh a (if; 15% Pm Hm 1-: x i-- nizuunmd kmsfly 11pm;

"r aim mounted luosviy 6 pimih, 122? but motion i5 (ammuwheel 20 t0 :hv .1 m a ring 01 rigidi iiVilCllPd {H iv tha-re'vvfin. the sub n ;1-lz pr/e i t0 engage with :4 nn H3. and permitting a lima'w .qwmiml mo ement. Tip an. r-nuled by the fare -1 Lu? 1 507: in the slfllinand Whivh 1s (3 4 11 yon ms wclfle y, nect'd to Ike said ri e-v9 umL rhmugh uh nttzwi'smi mxpeztivelp $0 pawn 3 and spur hvfl 29, wwuts t'im was ii. 15 and 16* each l the i m as the 15 attached a pointer 32. m pointm' 32 is ah of a spur wheel 1 23%, fast upon the 3H and 3H mow 1 law I n "m M exf ixiuding 21' ten; in; W 115 ZMTOSS 1, main 2. When the beam zinmm! warning: MW mm'edulem the: said insuhd-zfl bleak 1 iiw hr weak. ensurlliating blli -vks 111 and i6 rwsrn Livia are 03% @mrn' urigimll imsifiwis under the actifin nrrzmture 19 of 'rizr s M'I an": i rmspavtively and means of qcflludl'enriti as 0? the mpen-z 1% l5, and cm: fmm lmder the mum's H 1:3 and I 7* 0,} mm the mnghuu Plum 1 :1 51:. mop. Ur 1izamg Marks and. LEW mmcwen I 1 rm H 1 fun :i i by limiting 'mg im-ulna; cum/"iris 15 i, D thm v 'i of a pr iiu nwce 41 on the CjZCllitS tiwmthrough The @fvri" bridge wvee 38. A ulmk M1 42 acts upon the {are wheel 20 to prevent backward mcwemeut thereof. The forward movement of the wheels 20 and 21 is eifected by a spring 13, which is attached to a pin 14 in the casing 1 and to the connecting link 25%, and pulls same forward until the pro- ,iection it upon. the said bridge piece 38 comes into contact with one of the stop plus -2 after the armature 19 has drawn the lmers 36 and 37 backward and e pawls thereon to ride backward a. predetermined number (one or more) i the teeth ofthe wheels 20 and 21. The ll exerted by the spring 43 may be regir by attaching same to the pin -14 by a *1 or the like 45. ()perated in this manwheels are rev i lvcd simulta 1nd, through the respective train of indicate on the fare dial the fares le by each passenger and on the hzer dial the total earnings of the iicle.

The entrance of a passenger to the vehicle closes a circuit through a switch (such 2., shown in Fig. fixed in any suitable manner, under the floor or other part of the cab body, so that the passengers weight (whether he be seated or not) necessarily causes a socket member 16 to sink into contact with a plug or pin member 47 and so close the switch. Any movement of the portion of the vehicle, attached to an upper part 48 of the switch, lateral or longitudinal to the lower part 49 is taken up by a ball member 50 engaging in a socket member 51. This main, or passenger, switch, located in the circuit D (Fig. 12), controls the current from the accumulators or other source of electricity F located on the vehicle to the .0 spring contact I) operated by the wiper 16 which causes the said contact D to close the circuitto the electro-magnet 18 twice for each revolution of the spindle. 13. As has 'been hereinbefore stated, the spindle 13 revolves twice. or other suitable number of times, for each mile traveled by the vehicle. thus the electro-magnet 18 is energized and the wheels and 21 moved four times or other suitable number of times as may be arranged, for each mile traveled. Each movement of the wheels 20 and 21 can be made to register a certain increment of fare (say 2d.) on the fare and totalizer dials, and 31 respectively, thus when the main or passenger switch is closed the fare is being registered on both dials at the rate of 8d.

per mile.

52 (Fig. 8) represents the front seat, beside the driver, or any other seat on the vehicle that may be used for an extra passenger, and which may be pivoted at 53 and held up, when not in use, by springs or balance weights or the like. Attached to the seat is a metal quadrant 54 partly covered with an insulating material at 55, said quadrant forming one member of a switch. The arrangement is such that when the passenger lowers the seat a spring member 54: contacts with the bare part of the quadrant 54 and thus closes the switch and, when the passenger alights, the seat is returned to its original position by springs or the like and the spring member contacts with the insulated part 55 thus opening the switch. This auxiliary, or extra passenger switch, located in the circuit B (Fig. 12), controls the current to the spring contact B, operated by the wiper 14 which causes the said contact P) to close the circuit to the electromagnet once for each revolution of the spindle 13. Thus the clectro-magnet is energized twice for each mile traveled by the vehicle. and, under same convention as described for the main or passenger circuit, 4d. is indicated on the fare and totalizer dials.

A switch, such as shown in Fig. 9, may be placed under the luggage platform 56 which may be mounted upon springs 56 so that, when more than a predetermined weight of luggage is placed upon the platform, the said platform sinks and a projection 57 depending therefrom causes the spring members 58 and 59 to contact with one another thus closing the switch. This switch, located in the circuit C (Fig. 12) controls the current to the spring contact 0, operated by the wiper 15, which, as hereinbefore described with reference to the contact B, causes 4d. to be indicated upon the fare and totalizer dials for each mile traveled by the vehicle.

A coil spring 60 is attached by one end to the fare wheel 20 or to the ring or boss 25 atlixed thereon and by the other to a. pin 61 attached to the arm 36 and. is wound up as the wheel 20 is revolved and brings back the wheel and its train of indicating wheels to the starting point (minimum fare indication) when the fare wheel 20 is released from its pawls. The starting point is reached when a pin or projecting tooth 62 (Fig. 6) on the gear wheel 29 of the fare indicating mechanism comes into contact with a stopper or the like 63. This return to the starting point is etfected at the conclusion of each hire by means of a bar 64 projecting from the casing 1 and. having a knob 65 on its outer end. Attached to the inner end of the bar 64 by means of a cross bar 66, is a bar 67 (Fig. 5) having two projcctions 68 with inclined faces formed thereon which, when the bar is pushed inward come into contact with projecting pins 69 on the actuating and check pawls of the fare wheel and lift them out of contact with the teeth of the wheel which is then free to revolve and to return the indicating pointers to the starting point under the action of the coil spring 60. At the more time a bar 70 (Fig. 4), attached to the out fit by means of the cross bar 66, moves a lever 71 having one end pivotally atwhcll thereto and fulcrumed on a pin 72 attarlml to the back of the casing 1 (renun-1i) so as to cause a pawl 73 pivoted to rho other end of the lever 71" to rotate the scoulizer wheel 21 and add the minimum 'lHl to the fare already shown on the awzer, or proprietors dial. The gap 24-, and 5} which is provided in the 53 i .itiachczl to the fare wheel and log with the pin on the sleeve 23 t S51 1}... width to allow the minimum m. if) he left on the fare indicator when mt t'wc lttfi 20 is returned to the start- Lng ort! by the coil spring 60, and does not in 1-; tli'n, pointers thereon until the fare wlleol 2 has been rotated a distance corre- Liklri'ldillg to the minimum fare.

it prevent the totalizer wheel 21 being rcvolwd until the vehicle has run the dis- E'AUPQ c rresponding to the minimum fare (ha ha r 2' has a, curved notch or recess 71 firmed herein and, engaging with this notch, there is a bent lever 72, fulcrumed on, a pin 73 secured to the back of the casing ru wed} and having one end thereof forked and embracing therein the shank of at het sector 74: and bearing upon collars 75- formed on pins 75" thereon, so that as the bar is moved inward the otch 71 causes the bent lever 72 to bear upon the collars and force the sector 74 rlrm'hyai'd, in a slotted bracket 76, against the action of a spring 77, said bracket 76 and spring 77 being attached to the back of thrv casing I. (removed). The end of tho shanir oi" the sector 74 is so formed as to be capable of fitting into the curved end of the spring 77 so that, as the sector 74 mom's l nvnward and the teeth thereof are released from a retaining pawl 79, the end of the shank of the sector is caused to move into the said curved end of the spring which is so arranged that when the shank of the sci-tor T engages therewith, and when the sector mores up again under pressure from the sa d spring. it raises the actuating pawl out of engagement with the totalizer wheel 21 and retains it in engagement with the teeth of the sector until the electromegnct 18 has caused the arm 37 to make the number of oscillations corresponding to the minimum iare whereupon the pawl 59 having moved the sector 74 out of posithin to operate therewith, rengages the teeth of the Wheel 21. In order to prevent the sector 74 from moving back under the action of the spring 77 the retaining pawl 79 is pivoted to the back of the casing I (removed in Fig. 4) and to prevent said pawl from dropping on to the teeth of the wheel 21 when the sector 74 is moved downward a pin 80 is attached to the back of the casing and is so situated as to support the pawl 79 clear of all other mechanism when the quadrant is lowered.

In order to register the charges for time, as when the car is running and making stoppages for shopping or other purposes, a timepiece or like mechanism 81 is carried in any convenient place and is so arranged that, when the car stops, a time circuit is closed and the electro-magnet energized once in every predetermine interval of time. This may be carried out by arranging, in any suitable position, a spring-controlled governor 82 so geared with a suitable moving part of the vehicle that its speed varies with the speed of the vehicle, said overnor having fitted thereto a sliding Sleeve 84 adapted to be raised when the governor revolves at a speed suflicient to extend its balls or weights 91 and lowered when the speed of the overnor is not=sufiicient to extend said bal s or weights... Engaging a groove 83 in the sliding sleeve 84 is one end of a bar or rod 85 pivotally secured to the casing 1 at the other end by a. pin 86. Mounted at an intermediate part of the bar 85 is a spur wheel 87 engaging a pinion 88 to which is attached a radial arm 89 forming one member of a switch E, while a stud 90 insulated from, and attached to, the casing 1, (and which is so arranged that the arm 89 contacts therewith at each revolution of the same, when the wheel 87 is in engagement with the wheel 92 of the clockwork mechanism but nototherwise) forms the other member of the switch. This switch is electrically connected to the electro-magnet 18 by the wires E and E (see also Fig. 12). The arrangement is such that, when the speed of the vehicle falls below that necessary to give the balls 91 of the governor suflicient centrifugal force to keep them extended, the sleeve 84 drops and lowers the arm 85 thus allowing the spur wheel 87 to engage a spur wheel 92 of the clock-work mechanism, thereby rotating the arm 89 and causing it to contact with the stud 90 at each revolution the wheels being so geared that contact is made and 2d. registered on both indicators once every 2% minutes. or as may be arranged. A spring 87 is, or may be, provided on the wheel 87 to return the arm 89 to its original position when the governorraises the wheel 87 out of engagement with the clock-work mechanism, or the free end of the radial artn 89 may be weighted so as to cause the said arm to fall by gravity into the same position every time that the governor raises the wheel 87 out of engagementwith the clockwork mechanism. An adjustable spring 84' on the governor allows same to be regulated to operate at. any predetermined s eed. By this arrangement should the car e driven at less than a certain speed the indicator is ing as shown, and electrically connected to the meter.

The radially projecting pin 62 (Fig. 6), which is provided on the gear wheel 29 out of the fare indicating mechanism and acts as a stop when the fare indicator has returned to the starting point (minimum fare indication), may also be used as a means of breaking the contact of the time circuit. The stopper pin or the like 63 which stops the rotation of the bar of tooth 62 when the starting point is reached may take the form of a lever (Fig. 6) pivoted to the casing at 93 and having a projecting arm 94 arranged between two spring contacts 96 and 97 arranged in the wire E (Fig. 12) and controlling the' circuit to the switch E. These contacts are normally held closed but when the pin 62 strikes the stopper 63 the arm 94 presses against the contact 97 and breaks the connection between it and the contact 96. Thus it will be seen that when the fare indicator stands at the starting point no time charge will be recorded but when a short distance has been run with a passenger and the indicator has moved away'from its starting osition, the contacts 96 and 97 close the time circuit and when the car stops waiting time will be charged. A train of gear wheels (Fig. 7) may be driven from a pinion 98 mounted upon the spindle 11 for the purpose of registering the distance run by the vehicle, a pointer working over a distame dial being attached to the spindle 99.

In operation, when a passenger (or passengers) enters the vehicle his weight closes the main switch (Fig. 10) thus completing the circuit from the accumulators F, or

other source of current, to the spring contact D which, as hereinbefore described, causes 8d. per mile to be registered on both dials. Should there be a passenger unable to be accommodated within the car he uses the hinged seat 52 thus closing the auxiliary switch (Fig. 8) and completing the circuit from the accumulators to the spring contact B which, as hereinbefore described, causes an extra 4d. per mile to be recorded on the dials. Should a passenger have more than a predetermined weight of luggage its weight upon the luggage carrier causes same to sink and close the switch (Fig. 9) thus completing the circuit from the accumulators to the spring contact A which causes an additional 4d. per mile to be recorded.

Should the passenger alight and still retain the car In engagement the governor 91 stops and lowers the arm 85 thus causing the when] HT to engage with the clockwork mechanism which operates the switch E which, as hereinmfore described, causes 2d. to be registered on the dials for each 21} minutes that the car waits. When the passenger dismisses the car the driver presses in the knob which, through the medium of the aforedescribed mechanism, returns the fare indicator to the starting point (minimum fare) and adds the minimum fare to the fare already recorded on the totalizer or proprietors indicator.

With this apparatus the drivers only action is to push in the knob 65 upon the passengers leaving the car. It would not be to his advantage to omit doing this because though the fare indicator would not then indicate properly, the totalizer indicator would go on just the same. 7

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Leiters Patent is 1. An indicating device for cabs and like vehicles having, in combination, an indicating dial, a totalizing dial, a pointer adapted to H1026 over said indicating dial, a pointer adapted to move over said totalizing dial, electrically operable means for synchronously moving said pointers over said dials and means whereby the minimum fare chargeable may be added'to the amount already registered on the totalizing dial.

2. An indicating device for cabs and like vehicles having, in combination, an indicating dial, a totalizing dial, a pointer adapted to move over said indicating dial, a pointer adapted to move over said totalizing dial, electrically operable means for synchronouslv moving said pointers over said dials, means whereby the indicating dial may be returned to the minimum fare indication and means whereby the minimum fare chargeable'may be addedto the amount already registered on the totalizing dial.

3. An indicating device for cabs and like vehicles having, in combination, an indicating dial, a totalizing dial, a pointer adapted to move over said indicating dial, a pointer adapted to move over said totalizing dial, elfectrically operable means for synchronously moving said pointers over said dials, means whereby the indicating dial may be returned to the minimum fare indication and means whereby the minimiim fare chargeable may be added to the amount already registered on the totalizing dial synchronously with the return of the indicating dial to the minimum fare indication.

4. An indicating device for cabs and like vehicles having, in combination, an indicating dial, a pointer adapted to move over said dial and normally indicating the'minimum fare payable, electrically operable means for moving said pointer over said dial so as to indicate the amount payable to eachfor preventing any movement of the pointer until a distance corresponding to the minimum fare has been run.

5. An indicating device for cabs and like vehicles having, in combination, an indicating dial, a pointer adapted to move over said dial and normally indicating the minimum fare payable, electrically operable means for moving said pointer over said dial so as to indicate the amount payable to each fare, means whereby the indicating means are rendered "operative upon the occupation of the vehicle by a passenger and means'for preventing any movement of the pointer until a time correspondingto the minimum fare has passed. a

6. An indicating device for cabs and like vehicles having an indicating-dial, a pointer adapted to move over said dial and indicate the fare payable by each passenger, said pointer normally indicating the minimum fare payable, a totalizing dial, a second pointer adapted to move over said totalizing dial and indicate the total earnings of the vehicle, means .whereby the indicating means are rendered operative 'upon the occupation of the vehicle by a passenger and means for preventing any movement of the pointers until the distance. corresponding to the minimum fare has been run.

7. An indicating device for cabs and like vehicles having an'indicating dial, a pointer adapted to move oyer said dial and indicate the fare payable by each passenger, said. pointer normally indicating the minimum fare payable, a totalizing-dial, a second pointer adapted to move over said totalizmg dial and indicate the total. earnings of minimum fare has been run.

8. An indicating device for cabs and like vehicles having an'indicating dial,-a pointer adapted to move oversaid dial and indicate the fares payable, said pointer normally indicating the minimum fare payable,'a totalizing dial, a .second pointer adapted to move over said totalizing'dial and indicate the total earnings of the'vehicle, electrically operable means whereby the indicating means are set in operation upon the dewpation .of the vehicle by excess Weight of luggage and means for preventing any movement of the pointer until the distance corresponding to the minimum. fare has been run. i

9. An indicating device for cabs and like vehicles having, in combination, an indicating dial, a pointer adapted to move over said dial, a totalizing dial, a second pointer adapted to move over said totalizing dial, electrical means for moving said pointers and switch means whereby said pointer moving means is set in operation upon the occupation of the vehicle byexcess weight of luggage.

In testimon whereof I afifix my signature:

in presence 0 two witnesses. I

CHARLES ROBINSON.

' Witnesses: I

WALTER Gnonon PEARSON, MARGARET FINDLAY YOUNG. 

